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We all want perfect skin, but what does it actually take to keep our complexion looking youthful forever? Giving up bad habits and embracing new healthy rituals could help to keep your skin looking beautiful long into old age. Here are just fifteen ways to improve your skin’s health.

Moisturise

Moisturising is one of the most effective ways to ward of wrinkles. As we get older, our skin loses its ability to produce its natural oil called sebum. This causes the skin to become dry, leading to wrinkling. Moisturizer helps to substitute these oils in our skin. By starting to moisturise whilst you’re young, you can prolong wrinkles even more so. There are lots of different moisturisers out there suited to different skin types – this guide athttp://www.marieclaire.co.uk can help you to find the best one for your complexion.

Exfoliate

Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin cells on the surface of your skin making your skin appear smoother. You can exfoliate by either running an exfoliation brush over the surface of your skin or by using a special scrub substance. When it comes to latter option, you should make sure to look for scrubbing substance suited to your skin – there are scrubs for dry skin and scrub for spots and blackheads. You’re best exfoliating in the shower or over the sink when your skin is already wet. Unlike many other methods in this list, exfoliation gives you instant results making your skin feel beautifully smooth – you won’t be able to stop stroking your cheeks!

Stay hydrated

Drinking lots of water can improve the health of all your organs and this includes the skin. It helps to improve the flow of nutrients to our skin whilst flushing out toxins, keeping our skin looking radiant whilst helping to repair damage more quickly. Ideally, we should all be drinking 8 glasses of water a day – this helps all our organs to work at their optimum condition.

Protect yourself in the sun

Some sun exposure can be healthy for our skin – it’s from the sun that we get most of our vitamin D which helps our skin’s immune system. However, too much sun exposure can cause sunburn, which can accelerate the wrinkling process. Sunburn can also lead to more serious skin conditions such as skin cancer. When outdoors in the sun, you should always wear sunscreen or cover up to avoid getting burnt – it may take you longer to get a tan, but it will be a healthier tan. Sunscreen comes in various different factors, but usually anything less than factor 20 is ineffective. Like moisturisers, here are sunscreens out there for different skin types – this guide at https://www.glamour.com/ offers some useful information on sunscreens, which could help you to find the best product for you.

Avoid squinting

Heard of ‘crow’s feet’ before? These are wrinkles that appear around the corners of the eyes and they’re primarily caused by squinting too much. We’re most likely to squint when there’s too much or too little light entering the eyes. For example, intense sunlight often causes us to squint, which is where sunglasses come in use – these accessories won’t just make you look cool temporarily, they’ll protect your looks long into the future. Meanwhile, you should also avoid reading in a dimly lit room as this can also cause us to squint. If you need corrective vision, you should also make sure that you’re always wearing the right prescription glasses or contact lenses as this will limit squinting.

Stop smoking

It should come as no surprise that smoking is also bad for the skin. In fact, smoking has a number of negative effects on the skin. It can make our skin appear pale by restricting blood flow to the skin. It can also cause many facial wrinkles including wrinkles around the lips, wrinkles on the forehead and bags under the eyes all as a result of the heat and smoke. Quitting smoking could help to save your complexion. The likes of vaping is much better for your skin – you can buy vaping products from sites such ashttps://www.vapeshop.co.uk/. Chewing gum, wearing patches and hypnosis are a few other measures that could help you to quit.

Go easy on the booze

Unfortunately, alcohol is no good for your skin either. Not only does alcohol dehydrate your body, it can also damage your immune system and ability to rebuild cells all leading to pallid and aged skin. It’s also an insulin booster, which can lead to inflammation and a puffy appearance. All in all, it’s no wonder none of us look good when we’ve got a hangover. Reduce your alcohol intake and you could see a huge improvement in your skin quality.

Cut down on sugary snacks

Those with a sweet tooth may also be disappointed to discover that sugar is also bad for the skin. Sugar spikes our insulin levels, which leads to inflammation. This can make conditions like acne and eczema much worse. Soft drinks are the biggest culprit as they often contain more sugar than even the sweetest snacks (a can of coke contains 39 grams of sugar which is the equivalent of 9 teaspoons). Sticking to only a couple soft drinks a day and drinking more water could have a significant effect on your skin. You could also try drinking sugar-free soft drinks instead – this guide athttps://www.coca-cola.co.uk offers a list of low-sugar and no-sugar alternatives to popular soft drinks.

Eat more leafy greens

When it comes to foods that are healthy for our skin, leafy greens come up top. The likes of spinach, lettuce and broccoli are all rich in nutrients that can help to flush out toxins from our skin and repair damage. Start eating more salads and you could start to see a glow returning to your skin. You can also experiment with smoothies and soups as a way if integrating these greens in a more exciting way.

Get your fix of omega-3

Omega 3 fatty acids are one of the most important nutrients for your skin, helping to absorb and retain water and ward off wrinkles. You can find these nutrients in all kinds of foods – the most plentiful source being fish. If you’re not a fan of fish, you can also get your fix of omega-3 in walnuts and flaxseeds. You can also take omega-3 in the form of supplements such as cod liver oil – these are so popular that you’re likely to find them in your local supermarket.

Drink green tea

Green tea is also great for the skin. It contains catechins, which have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to combat spots and rashes. These catechins are also able to slow down aging, preventing wrinkles. Green tea has many other health benefits such as protecting the heart, brain and bones – it’s often heralded as a superdrink.

Stay active

Being physically active is also good for the skin. When we exercise, the blood flows faster helping oxygen and nutrients to reach the surface of the skin. This can help to keep your skin glowing. There are also other advantages to exercise that can affect the skin. The risk of getting cellulite and varicose veins can be reduced by exercising.

Take care with makeup

Most makeup causes no damage to skin – whilst some people can get allergies, there are now many hypoallergenic makeup which can prevent rashes. Those with oily skin however may want to be careful of wearing makeup too often. Makeup can block up pores in the skin leading to spots and acne. It’s best to not wear makeup every day and to always take it off before you go to bed.

Take time to destress

Stress can also take its toll on your skin. When we are stressed our body releases a hormone called cortisol, which makes our skin more reactive to inflammation. This could lead to outbreaks of acne or rashes. It’s not always possible to remove the triggers in our life causing stress, however you may be able to find ways of destressing, helping you to lower your cortisol levels. Some of the best ways to destress include meditation, exercise and taking a hot bath.

Get your beauty sleep

Your skin could also be suffering if you’re not getting enough sleep. Not only does a lack of sleep cause stress, but it also limits the time our body has to heal. When we’re tired, we’re also more prone to getting puffy eyes, which can develop into permanent wrinkles if you’re persistently tired. Getting a good night’s sleep could help to make your skin look more rejuvenated by preventing this puffiness, helping your skin heal and making you feel less stressed.

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We’re all different, and that means that we all start to show signs of age at different times in life. Did you know that some men start to go bald before they reach twenty? While women can develop their first wrinkle at the grand old age of nineteen. It’s completely true, and it all depends on how well you look after yourself. Then, of course, there are genetics, and there’s very little you can do about issues you inherit.

However, what you can do is understand the key features that people look at when assessing your age. If you keep these areas of your body looking young, people will always shave at least a few years off when guessing your age. So, what features are we talking about?

Protect The Skin You’re In

You do need to make sure that you keep your skin protected if you want your skin to look young. There are two important aspects to think about, elasticity and colour. When you’re skin loses it’s elasticity you will start to develop wrinkles as well as loose skin, and you don’t want that. There are ways to reduce the chances of this. For instance, you can complete skin tightening exercises for certain areas. You certainly don’t want to develop a turkey neck.

To avoid this, tilt your head up to the sky so that it’s straight with your neck. Open and close your mouth slowly, and you’ll feel the skin stretching into place. Do this ten times each day, and you’ll be able to avoid your neck aging too fast.

You might also want to think about using a natural face mask on your skin. With natural vitamins and nutrients, you can give your skin everything it needs to stay youthful.

All You Gotta Do Is Smile

Believe it or not smiling automatically makes you look younger. Of course, you need the right type of smile with straight teeth and no signs of damage. If you have a damaged or lost tooth, this can affect how young you look. Generally, we associate lost and damaged teeth with signs of age. Thankfully, health practices such as Harrell Dental Implant Center are providing the solution to this problem. Using their services, you can quickly get lost teeth replaced and ensure you look young and stunning.

Of course, you may also want to think about the color of your teeth. Yellow teeth are another sign of age, but there are easy ways to whiten them. With baking soda and lemon juice, you can make a great paste that will give you back your pearly whites in a matter of months.

You Better Work It

Finally, energy and vigor are always going to be associated with youth. So, if you want to stay looking young, you need to be exercising regularly, keeping your body fit. Ideally, you should be aiming for that toned look, and that doesn’t just come with exercise. You need to eat the right diet as well, filled with foods high in nutrients and vitamins. Don’t forget, if you don’t think you’re getting the right vitamins in your diet, you can always use supplements and add them to your meals.

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While all sorts of food are wonderful, from sugary drinks to lovely chocolate and tasty red wine, they’re not the best things for our mouths, are they? While we can talk about oral hygiene until we’re blue in the face, it still won’t stop us reaching for those delicious treats. And we can brush our teeth twice a day as we’re told to, but it’s about preventing these problems so we can enjoy our food but also not have to have a root canal when we’re older!

Make Your Teeth Whiter

There are plenty of options to make your teeth whiter. If you really need to seek the help of a dentist, there are sites likewww.pmddentalcare.com.au to give you the professional help you need. But if you’re like me, then you would like to reduce your time in the dentist’s chair when you can. There are natural remedies to whiten your teeth, and these include apple cider vinegar, which is also great at removing plaque. But it is very acidic, so be careful not to overdo it. Vitamin C is a great tool in whitening your teeth, and you can apply foods that are rich in Vitamin C onto the teeth directly. Strawberries, oranges, and lemons are examples of fruit rich in Vitamin C, but again, these are highly acidic! So once you have applied the fruit to your teeth, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. And be sure to only do it twice a week.

Make Your Breath Fresher

A key part ofyour appearance in social functions is something that you cannot see! The best methods are avoiding the classics, such as garlic and onions, but preventing bad breath is all about stimulating saliva in your mouth which will rinse out the bacteria. You can do this by eating foods that will stimulate saliva, like apples. And breath freshening herbs, like mint and cinnamon, are great additions to your breath-freshening armory!

Helping With Mouth Ulcers

These can be incredibly painful when left untreated. The trick to shrinking them down is about reducing the bacteria in the mouth. You can do this by swishing salt water around, which has been an age-old cure for mouth problems, or you can use honey. Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it helps to prevent dehydration, and has very high anti-microbial properties. Coconut oil is another anti-microbial foodstuff that you can easily buy over the counter now in stores, and as well as being a trendy health food, there are lots of people who use it for oil pulling, which helps to remove bacteria and improve the overall health of your mouth.

Gum Disease Prevention

While all these methods are great for quick relief, they are no replacement for having all round good oral hygiene. To prevent gum disease, not only do you need to be flossing and brushing as regular as clockwork, but your diet plays a big part. Eat your greens, and if you need that glass of wine or bar of chocolate, make sure you have it as part of a balanced diet.

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Aging isn’t always something we can control. It’s worth understanding that first. How we all age will depend on a number of different factors. Genetics often play a huge part in the aging process; which often can’t he helped. But, sometimes, it’s our lifestyle choices that can actually age us the most. And luckily, that’s one side of aging that we can control. If you’ve started to notice visible signs of aging and you’d like to slow them down, it’s time to take control. You may not have a say in how your body naturally decides to age, but you can work on slowing it down with the lifestyle choices you make.

Stop Smoking

Even if you’ve been smoking for longer than you can remember, if you want to age well, you need to stop now. Smoking can age your skin rapidly, and although some damage may already have set in, you can stop it from getting any worse by quitting right away. If you feel like you need some help, talk to your doctor, or team up with a buddy. You could save your skin, not to mention your life, by making this significant change.

Drink More

Wrinkles are inevitable, but you can stop them from forming, or improve their destined severity by staying hydrated. When your skin is hydrated, it’s healthy. Dehydrated skin will look dull, lifeless, discolored and wrinkles will start to form. But improving your level of hydration by drinking more water, can have a huge effect on how your body will age visibly.

Work With Your Skin

Although you may want to focus on prevention, you should be thinking about your skin’s current condition too. So, you’re also going to have to do your best at working with your skin from now on. You may have already experienced some visible signs of aging. When that’s the case, you’re going to have to do what you can to undo some of the damage. Whether you choose treatments like anti-aging facials or thread lifts, you can help your skin to reverse the visible signs of aging that have already set in.

Exfoliate Regularly

When you’re trying to focus on reducing the visible signs of aging, exfoliating can help. When you exfoliate, you’re not only removing any dead skin cells that could be clogging up your pores and causing breakouts; you’re also rejuvenating the skin. Not everybody understands the importance of exfoliation, but it is something we should also be focusing if we want to achieve younger looking skin.

Sleep!

As much as you might be prepared to invest in expensive skin care products and the latest treatments and procedures, there is a miracle cure that you can have for free. Sleep! Sleep not only allows the body to regroup and gain more energy, but it also repairs, restores and recovers the body. When we sleep, we produce collagen – and we all know how important collagen is to the skin. So make sure you’re getting a good amount of sleep, between seven and eight hours, every single night.

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If you know you’re due to have surgery – whether for medical or cosmetic reasons – you should make every effort to stop smoking as soon as possible. You should aim to quit completely as soon as possible before the date of the operation.

The reasons why

Non-smokers experience fewer ill-effects during and after the anaesthetic and they often recover much more quickly than smokers. Their wounds are more likely to heal with no infections and with less visible scarring. If you have, for example, tummy tuck surgery in Manchester with Dr Gary Ross, he will recommend that you stop at least six weeks beforehand.

Your body, especially your lungs and heart, start to recover and repair themselves as soon as you quit smoking.

The more time that elapses between you quitting and having your surgery means more repair and recovery.

Smokers spend on average two days more in hospital after surgery than non-smokers.

If you carry on smoking

You’re at increased risks of chest infections, post-operative blood clots in the lungs or legs and your wounds will heal much more slowly. All this puts you at more risk of infections.

You have a 30% chance of post-op breathing and/or heart problems.

You’re 12 times more likely to have wound complications, including infections and ruptures.

Why smoking is bad for you

Chest infections

Your lungs are lined with millions of cilia – tiny hair-like projections that wave about and move mucus up from the lungs and air passages. Smoking temporarily paralyses these cilia so they can’t do their job of removing mucus, dust and other foreign bodies. This makes smokers much more prone to infections, especially after a general anaesthetic.

The effects of nicotine

Nicotine raises the heart rate and blood pressure – during an operation, when you’re under an anaesthetic, it’s crucial that heart rate and blood pressure are maintained within strict parameters.

Increased risk of blood clots

If you smoke your blood will have high levels of compounds that can cause it to clot faster than a non-smoker’s blood. This increases the risk of post-op blood clots in the lungs and lower legs; these clots can be fatal.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO2) is a toxic gas inhaled with cigarette smoke. It reduces the ability of your blood to carry oxygen, which in turn can increase the risk of heart attacks, gastric ulcers and strokes. While you’re under an anaesthetic, your blood may carry less oxygen than a non-smoker, which can starve the heart and brain. Post-operatively, lower levels of oxygen can delay healing and make you more prone to infections.

What you need to do

Ideally, you should give up as soon as you know you’re having surgery. If you feel you can quit quickly and cleanly, then do so; if not, see your GP or practice nurse for help with making a managed withdrawal. You may, if you need, use nicotine replacement therapy, but remember that nicotine on its own will affect your surgery and recovery.

Your safest option both for your operation and for your long-term health is to quit smoking for good – you can do it!

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Looking after your feet is important, and there’s lots you can do to help look keep them in good condition. Here’s a few of my best remedies:

A Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet is not just good for your overall health but for your nails too. Nails are made from the protein keratin, and this will develop well with a balanced diet that covers all the protein, vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Keep Your Feet Clean

Wash your feet at least once a day with warm water and a mild antibacterial soap to keep skin and nails clean. Make sure you get in between the toes. Massaging the feet during this process will stimulate circulation, which is beneficial too.

Dry Feet Carefully

Ensure your feet are thoroughly dried with a clean towel to prevent moisture building up and creating fungal breeding areas and causing conditions like athlete’s foot.

Wear Correctly Fitting Shoes

To protect your toes and nails, you should make sure your shoes fit well, are breathable and comfortable. Sports shoes can provide a breeding ground for fungal infection, so buy the most breathable option you can afford. And make sure you get your feet out in the fresh air and light as much as possible, as this will help to let your feet breathe.

Cut Toenails Carefully

You should give yourself a home pedicure approximately once a month, but potentially more frequently if your nails grow quickly. Begin with clean feet and remove any traces of nail polish. Then trim toenails with good-quality clippers, ensuring you cut straight across.

Cutting down at the sides can lead to a painful ingrowing toenail. Make sure you don’t cut them too short – leave enough to let the nail do its job of protecting your toe. Gently shape them with a file if you need.

Soak and Exfoliate

After you’ve cut your nails, give your feet a good soak for at least five minutes to soften the skin. You can use a mild soap or essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus if you want here.

Then use a foot scrub to exfoliate – a homemade combination of baby oil and sugar will do the job by scrubbing away dead skin cells. After this, rinse your feet and pat them dry, again ensuring you get between your toes.

Cuticle Care

Soften cuticles with oil or a cuticle cream and then gently push them back with a cuticle stick.

Moisturise

Moisturise your feet using a thick, rich moisturiser, making sure to cover your toes and nails. The massaging effect is again good for stimulating circulation. If you’re painting your nails, make sure you wipe them clean of moisturiser so that you begin with a good base.

Get Out Your Toe Separators and Polish

It’s a good idea to get some toe separators to make sure you get a clean and professional-looking finish. Then begin with a thin layer of base coat, which will smooth out any ridges and provide a good surface for your colour.

When that’s dry, paint on two thin layers of polish, making sure the first layer has dried before adding the next. Use three strokes – start at the centre of the nail, then each of the sides, aiming for a thin and even finish. Finally, add a thin top coat, which will not just add shine but also protection. I found that DaniPro nail varnish gave my nails a flawless finish and better yet, it’s completely toxin free!

Relax

Allow your nails to dry out thoroughly and enjoy!

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Everybody always talks about what you should do to your skin, and how you should treat it. But does anybody ever talk about the things you shouldn’t do? There are so many mistakes you can make, and it’s imperative you avoid them if you want gorgeous skin. Here are 12 mistakes you should never make – ever!

Using Products That Don’t Suit You

Using products that don’t suit you should be classed as a crime. In order to ensure you never do this, you need to know your skin type. If you don’t know how to analyse it, look online. Do some tests and answer some questions relating to your skin, or go and see a professional. Just bear in mind that your skin can change over time, so you should look out for changes and then treat it accordingly.

Touching it Too Much

If you constantly touch your face and other areas of your body, you could be transferring bacteria onto yourself. This will cause spots, imperfections, and oiliness. Pay attention to the times you touch your face and mindfully stop yourself. If you go to the gym, it’s even more important that you avoid doing this! Many people have fallen ill due to being unhygienic in places prone to bacteria such as the gym.

Failing to Exfoliate

Exfoliation gets rid of dead skin cells and encourages new skin cells. You’ll instantly reveal brighter, more glowing skin. If you don’t exfoliate, you can get patchy, uneven skin. You may even find that your complexion looks quite dull. Make sure you use a facial exfoliator to get the smooth result you crave. Anything too harsh could damage your skin! Make sure you use one for sensitive skin if you think you might be prone to broken capillaries and things like that.

Going to the gym is great. Kudos to you if you workout! Just make sure you don’t stay sweaty for too long. Wash your face and body as soon as you can after working out. I’d give yourself a half hour window, max. This way, you can fight off any spots and get rid of excess oil.

Smoking

Smoking is bad for so many reasons – I could write a post based on this alone! However, it’s also very bad for the skin. It’ll age you by reducing your elasticity and creating lines where there shouldn’t be any lines.

Drinking to Excess

Drinking too much is bad for skin too. It can age us, cause redness/broken capillaries, spots, and so much more. Having an occasional drink is OK, just not drinking all the time. Monitor your intake and be honest with yourself.

Eating Rubbish

Food can make or break your skin. You can use as many great products as you like, but if you’re eating rubbish, your skin may not benefit. Cut down on processed foods and sugar for a start. Some people even believe that dairy can be to blame for bad skin. Eat lots of foods that are good for the skin, like vegetables. Eating healthy the majority of the time should encourage your skin to look great.

Using Sunbeds

Many people try to justify the use of sunbeds, but the truth is; they’re bad. Australia has already banned them. Using them just a couple of times can increase your risk of skin cancer. You’ll age, develop sun spots, and there are a number of other things you can suffer from. If you’re not you without your tan, get it out of a bottle instead. It’s much safer!

Failing to Protect from the Sun

When you go out in the sun, you need to protect your skin. Even if it isn’t sunny outside you need to protect your skin! The sun can damage our skin whether it’s hot or not. Make sure you use products containing an SPF, and that you wear protective clothing. This is especially important in hot countries, but also in your home country. Do it now or regret it later!

The hands and neck have a thinner layer of skin on them than anywhere else. This means that they can begin to look much older than they are if you’re not careful. That, paired with the fact that they are usually exposed, means they can quickly become damaged. Make sure you protect them in the same way as the rest of your body!

Picking at It

Any time you pull or pick at your skin, you’re creating damage. Most of us know we shouldn’t do it, yet we do it anyway. Remember that whenever you do this, you’re creating a scar or a wrinkle. If you consciously decide not to do this, you’ll enjoy younger looking, perfect skin for longer. Using a product such as http://www.platinumskincare.com/tca-peel-13-20-30/ can help to reduce any impurities that are already present. Make it your goal to avoid making more of them!

Cleansing Too Much

Cleansing too much can strip the skin of natural oils and make it even worse. Your skin will over compromise by creating more oil, and then you’ll end up with impurities and blemishes. You should only cleanse twice per day; in the morning and at night. If you exercise, make sure one of your cleanses is afterwards. If you want to give your face a wipe over any other time, using a micellar water is gentle enough to be used again. You could even use a toner!

Avoid making these 12 mistakes with your skin, and you should notice big improvements in no time at all. Even if your skin is in pretty good condition to begin with, making sure you use the tips in this guide will keep it that way. If you don’t start taking care of your skin now, you’ll wish that you did later on down the line. If you have any skincare tips of your own, make sure you leave a comment below. Come back for more tips soon!